« Back to article

Print this article

'It's good to get it at such an early age'

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar will be honoured with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement trophy at the annual Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awards ceremony to be held in Chennai on December 10.

The award will comprise a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs. 15 lakhs, said a BCCI release on Tuesday.

- Ajit Wadekar on the 1971 triumph in the West Indies

The 70-year-old Wadekar, who represented India in 37 Tests and scored 2113 runs, expressed his jubilation at receiving the honour.

"This is wonderful, really. Whatever little services to cricket I have made have been recognised by the Cricket Board. It's good to get it at such an early age," said Wadekar.

Wadekar led India to series wins over England, WI

Wadekar made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the late fifties. He had his Test baptism against Garry Sobers' West Indies in the 1966-67 season and established himself in the national side with an innings of 67 in the third Test of the series at Chennai.

The very next year, Wadekar became a part of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's team that beat New Zealand 3-1 to register India's first-ever Test series win overseas.

Wadekar was appointed the captain of the national team in early 1971 and that became a turning point in the history of Indian cricket.

He led India to consecutive series victories against the formidable West Indies and England on their own grounds. This was an unprecedented achievement as never before had India won a Test, leave alone a series, in the Caribbean and England.

Wadekar retired from cricket in 1974

The Mumbaikar, who scored 15,380 runs in 237 first-class matches, and led Mumbai to Ranji Trophy triumphs in 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72 and 1972-73, retired from both international and first-class cricket in 1974.

He was Indian team's cricket manager from 1992-93 to 1995-96 and the chairman of the All-India Senior Selection Committee in 1998-99.